"How many was in the party, sur?"
"Why?"
"Well, Bill Bennetto, Maaster Veryan's hind, was over here little while ago, and he zaid as ow 'ee'd zeed a party of five ride through St. Eval. Ther' wos three gentlemen and two laadies, sur. They wos ridin' 'ard for Padstow, 'ee zaid."
"What time was this?"
"'Bout fower a clock, sur. Praps that was the lot you was wantin'."
"How far is it from here to Padstow."
"Oa ten or twelve mile, I shud think."
"A straight road?"
"Aw, iss, you can't miss et."
Glad to get out of the house infected with small-pox, I contented myself with this information, and a few seconds later I was on Chestnut's back again, riding northward. I had gone only a short distance, however, when I came to a junction of roads. Here a difficulty presented itself, for I knew not which way to take.